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Monday, 28 March 2016

Adding Paranormal Into Your Story by Rose Pressey #ChaBooCha

Adding Paranormal Into Your Storyby Rose Pressey

Adding paranormal into your story can open
up all new worlds to you and your readers. There are many ways to weave the
paranormal into your writing. It all starts with how much supernatural you want
to include. If you just want a hint of the paranormal, and the main topic of
your book doesn’t really deal with this subject, then you could just add a
spooky setting or mention paranormal events that your characters experienced in
the past.

Have your characters talk about paranormal
events in their lives. They can recount ghost stories, unexplained mysteries,
or maybe a sixth sense. Not too much of this method though. You want to avoid ‘telling’
and have more ‘showing’ in your story. There are many books on this subject.

If you want more paranormal elements, then
you can add actual ghost sightings, visits from vampires, werewolves, etc. Let
your imagination run wild. Make up your own world and paranormal elements. It
also depends on what type of paranormal world you want to create. Supernatural
beings require more world building, but you can weave this into the everyday
life of your characters.

Is your main character a paranormal being
or have paranormal powers? Show your readers the paranormal effects your
characters deal with on a daily basis. Do they have to make special
accommodations to avoid the paranormal? Or do they use paranormal powers for
daily tasks or to help solve problems? Maybe they have special tricks or ways to
deal with their paranormal abilities.

Other ways to show paranormal might be
subtle scenes added to your story, like your character walking under
streetlights and having the lights go off at that exact moment. Maybe they read
people’s minds and have to keep what they discover a secret, yet they always
finish the other person’s sentences.

I also like to allow my characters to help
me figure out where the paranormal should be in the story. Spend time
developing your characters and they’ll have an easier time taking to you on the
page.

There are many ways to add paranormal to a
story. So here are just a few bullet points to help you.

·Subtle
hints of the paranormal throughout the story.

·Main
characters with paranormal skills or beings.

·Paranormal
settings like haunted houses or other supernatural settings.

·Make
sure paranormal elements fit your story.

·Paranormal
abilities with day-to-day life.

I hope this helps you add to or enhance
your paranormal world.

*****

Rose Pressey is a USA TODAY bestselling author. She enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. The paranormal has always captured her interest. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained fascinates her.
When she's not writing about werewolves, vampires and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and listening to oldies from the fifties.
Rose lives in the beautiful commonwealth of Kentucky with her husband, son and three sassy Chihuahuas.

Great post, Rose! Thank you for the tips for adding paranormal aspects into a manuscript. I have never written anything close to paranormal, although some aspects may be in my middle grade novel NED. I need to go back through and check it out as I can think of one or two places that it could work

i have a magic or paranormal event in nearly all my stories. this was great! also need to check out this prize.... one of the first novels i wrote is in a magical world. i failed the challenge this year, but i did go back and pull this story apart.. which is a win for me;)thank u so much!

Chapter Book Challenge

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